Folding house structure



Oct. 3, 1944. J, PATRICK 2,359,577

FOLDING HOUSE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 15, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR :L E i J. PATRICK FOLDING HOUSE STRUCTURE' Oct. 3,11944.

Filed Feb. 13, 1945 5 sheets/#sheet 2 Oct- 3, 1944- J. PATRICK FOLDING HOUSE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 15, y 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet` 3 sa 7g ra ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED STATESi PATENT OFFICE FOLDING HOUSE STRUCTURE Joshua Patrick., Detroit, Mich.

Application February 13, 1943, Serial No. 475,703

(c1. zo-z) 4 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a house, and more particularly to a house of the collapsible type which may be conveniently folded into a compact unit for shipping, or storing when not in use.

An object of the invention is to provide a strueture which is of the portable type; one which may be folded into a box-like unit for moving from one location to another and yet, when set up for use, capable of accommodating several individuals as a temporary house.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of the folding or collapsible type which is provided with a compartment for the storage of interior furnishings such as a table, stove, cots, and the like, when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the weight of a house structure by eliminating material which has heretofore been used to enclose unused space, such as, the ooring under cots, beds or the like. f

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanyingv drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of an automobile illustrating one Way of convenient transportation of my improved structure, the collapsed house being shown as applied to the rear bumper of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the house structure partially opened, one end wall being in opened position and the other end wall in a folded position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the folded end wall on the lines 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View ofthe house as assembled for use, parts being broken away, showing some of the interior.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig.`6 is a perspective View showing the terior of the house.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the house in its folded position, showing the compartment for storage of the furnishings such as stove, canvas, cots and the like.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a form of a collapsible table which may be conveniently used or stored.

Referring to the drawings, 1 have shown in Fig. 1 the rear portion of an automobile I0 having a bumper I2 supporting the house in its collapsed position. Braces I4 are detachably secured to the house as at I6,such as by bolts and are provided with clamps I8 which engage the 4edge of an automobile fender.

Referring to Fig. 2, the Vhouse comprises a narrow box portion 2|J having two side walls 22 preferably made by a frame 24 to which is applied a plywood panel 26. The end walls 28 are of less heighth and are secured to the ends of the side walls. The oor ofl this box structure is of double thickness to give maximum strength for a minimum amount of material. Referring now to Fig. 7, the floor is preferably made of a thin plywood panel 30 forming the under sec-l tion with transverse ribs 32, of ordinary building lath, and an upper section of thin plywood panel 34. These panel sections and ribs are secured together in the usual manner as by nails, screws or theY like.

The end walls of the house are formed in three sections, a central panel 36 and side panels 38. The central panel 36 is of a width to fit within the side walls 22 and is hinged at its lower Yedge to the upper surface of the end walls 28. These panels are made having a frame 40 to which is attacheda panel, preferably of plywood. The side panels are made of frames 42 having panels attached thereto and are hinged to the central panel as at 44 shown in Fig. 4.

The roof, sidewalls, and bottom of the house, with the exception of the floor shown by panels 30 and 34, are covered by a canvas strip 46. One edge of this canvas is secured to the upper edge `of one side wall 22 by fasteners 48, the bottom is no need of a rigid floor below that space, consequently I have reduced the weight and cost of the structure.

The frame 42 of each side panel is provided with transverse ribs 52 upon which are secured stops 54. These position poles 56 to which are attached canvas forming a cot o-r seat. As shown in Fig, 5, the poles 56 are placed on a horizontal frame member 62 and positioned by stops 64 thus forming a seat rather than a bed. The poles 56 may be positioned on the lower transverse 'frame member 6B against the stops 54, thus forming a bed as illustrated in Fig. 6.

'I'he opposite side of the cot, or poles 58, are positioned by blocks 60 which are arranged on the inside of the vertical frame member of the central panel 36. It will be noted thatI the poles Eliare positioned on the side of frames 40 such detachably secured by suitable hooks, dowels `or l0 bolts and when the house is collapsed they are carried in the box compartment with the cots, table and any other furnishings, as illustrated inFig.7. A One end of the house is provided "with "a"door^1"5 14, hinged to the central panel 36. 'Inthisend portionin the form of an open box, an end panel I have provided windows 16 with movable shut,- ters 18, one window for each ofthe 'four cots'as illustrated. The opposite end wall is y'provided' with a window 80. 20

Tonfurther strengthen and reinforce the'uppr longitudinal members 10,71 have'provided lan `attached shelf member 82 which valsds'erves `'as a storage spacejforwarticles ora convenient meansv for hanging clothing. i

`Ropes or the like are attached to the upper a edges of V the side wall canvasV and are secured toithe ground to hold the house from tilting sidewi'se. This is desirable because of the narrow base and the overhanging upper portions.

vertically adjustablelegs 84 have slots 86 Areceiving bolts and nuts 88 which permit adjust- 'ment forany irregular location. A foot Sfhas been provided to increasestability@ Blocks 92 are secured lto theframe 470 at"'o'ne"5 end wu These b'loks 92v hav pins 9A winch are received in holes 96 inr thevtfable 88. The table isprovided with a pair of folding legs at the opposite end from the holes.

v i Since the end walls Laire slightly higher thantleqo floor, it is desirable t'oV forma doorfllftheapen'- ing for which is flush with Ythe f fl'oor "so that'in cleaning, the dirt may be removed: fromjthe passage compartment flush with the floor. This door Ill() also serves ras a means for inserting the-115 table, Vcot poles, c'anvas land Vvlongitudinal `v side space'dfrom'I the upper' surface ofthe' floor, there `placed onirthe automobile bumper'w'ithithe legs Y84`of one side're'stin'go'n the upper edge' of the bumper. A clamp lozis hooked under theiower edge of the bumperand has 'a threaded end 1114""55 .whichpasses through the slot '86 inthe 1eg'84. ,A nut |06 received on the' threaded'end securely holds the house iniplace. `The bars I4 arethen applied to hold the house from tilting.

When several unitsare to be transported, 1they() can be stacked; one'abovethe' other, andV shipped lfrom oneY location to another. "Thesecompact units are ideal for army use, each unitfac'comm'odating four soldiers'which can beset kup :or taken .e

dQwn quicker than a tent. v It will be understood that Various'changeain- Acluding thejsizeshape and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the 'spirit ofV my inventionand it isnot 'my intention to limit its scope other than by the terms of the iv'i0 appended claims.

I claim:

1. A folding house structure comprising a box having two side walls, two end walls and a oor, end panels hinged to the upper edge of said end walls, each end panel having side panels hinged thereto for extension beyond the side walls of said box, means for securing the extended panels at one end in upright spaced relation to the extended panels at the other and a fabric cover extending from the 'panels at oneend to those at the other and supported by said securing means and secured to and -supported by the edges of the panels at both ends and forming the roof, sidewalls and bottom portions of the house below said lextended panels.

Q2. A folding house structure comprising a base hinged to'one len'dfof said box and being'of a vs lirdtli and height to fit within the box, panels hinged to the longitudinal edges of said end vipanel"substaditiall'y the Width of said box but "spacedat its'lower end from the lower end of said endpanL a second end panel substantially similar to the `rstn`amed end -pan'el and hinged'to the opposite end o f said box, transverse fram'e 'members on said end panels,'blocks on said tran-sverse frame vmembers for positioning the ends of cot lpoles extending llongitudinally between-said 'end jpanels, means for securing vtheV extended 0 'panels'at one end in upright spaced relation to theextended panels Yat the other and a vfabric cover extending from thel panels atoneend to those latthe other and supported by saidsecuring 'means `"and secured to and supported bythe A'edges of the panels at both ends 'and forming the roof, sidewalls and bottom portions of the house below'said extendedv panels.

- 3. A folding house structure having a box base portion, a three-part endportion hinged to each 'end' of said box adapted tobe folded into said box, the lower edge of the two outer endlportions terminating above the upper edge of the side walls of said box, means Vfor securing the panels at each end in upright verticallrelatio'n Vwith said three-part end portion folded in a `vertical plane 4anda fabric cover extending from the ypanels --at one end to the panels at the other andsupported by said securing means and secured to and'supp'orted' by the edges of the panels at both 0 ends and forming theroof, sidewalls and'bottom `portion's'of the 'housebelow said extended panels.

l 4. Aflding house structurerhaving a base p0rtion forming a compartment, 'end' panels adapted to be received in said compartment 'and hinged to the A'oppositeends of said base for swinging into and out of said compartme'nh'side extensions hinged to 'the verticaledges of said endpanels ,with their lo'wer'edgesspaced'above theilower edge of said end panels, `detachable spacers Y'be- '.tween the oppositeupper 'and outer corners of said extended panels on said end panels 'when theyr l'areV in' a planeiwith saidend panels and in' a vertical position, and a coveroflilexible mate- `rialA over the upperfedges of said end Apax'ielsand extended panelsandover saidspacers, vsaid cover vhaving its "lower edges' secured to said" base and having its side edges /securedto ed'gesof lsaid end panels and'extended' panels forming thereof,

'side walls, and bottomportion of said-house' beyond said base. A

JOSHUA PATRICK. 

